New member with a new G37 and a new problem

[heyugumby]

Hi there, Just found this site. I've been browsing thru the topics & don't find any trouble issues. So, I hope I don't bum you all out or am at the wrong place. Here's my deal... I had an '05 G35 sedan which I loved and had not one problem with. Traded in for a '09 G37 Sedan. 700 miles on the car and the other night the alarm goes off. And it continues to go off about every 20 minutes. Roadside assist. picked it up & towed it to dealer. They had it for two days. They replaced/reprogrammed both intelligent keys and said it was fixed. They towed it back to me (I live 100+ miles from nearest dealer) and about 15 minutes after tow driver left the alarm goes off. Then it goes off again. Checked the car out and found that the doors will not lock with the button on the door handles. I can lock it with the key fob or from the inside and then unlock it with the door handle buttons but it will not lock with the door handle buttons. I also noticed that if I unlock the door, open the door, lock it (from the inside) then close the door, the indicator light on the dash to insert the intelligent key in the little charger to the left of the steering wheel stays on for a bit then goes off. So the car's headed back to the dealer. It's a very disappointing issue. I really love the car otherwise. Any thoughts on what the problem(s) might be? Much thanks!

[tom4g37]

I just bought the g37 sedan 3/31 and had my alarm going off when the wind blew to hard etc. They did an adjustment to the VDC unit and solved the issue.

[pfarmer]

Hi there, Just found this site. I've been browsing thru the topics & don't find any trouble issues. So, I hope I don't bum you all out or am at the wrong place. Here's my deal... I had an '05 G35 sedan which I loved and had not one problem with. Traded in for a '09 G37 Sedan. 700 miles on the car and the other night the alarm goes off. And it continues to go off about every 20 minutes. Roadside assist. picked it up & towed it to dealer. They had it for two days. They replaced/reprogrammed both intelligent keys and said it was fixed. They towed it back to me (I live 100+ miles from nearest dealer) and about 15 minutes after tow driver left the alarm goes off. Then it goes off again. Checked the car out and found that the doors will not lock with the button on the door handles. I can lock it with the key fob or from the inside and then unlock it with the door handle buttons but it will not lock with the door handle buttons. I also noticed that if I unlock the door, open the door, lock it (from the inside) then close the door, the indicator light on the dash to insert the intelligent key in the little charger to the left of the steering wheel stays on for a bit then goes off. So the car's headed back to the dealer. It's a very disappointing issue. I really love the car otherwise. Any thoughts on what the problem(s) might be? Much thanks!

How is the battery in your key fob? If you have two fobs, where is the second one located? If you trade key fobs does the second one behave the same?

If you try to lock it with the door button with the key fob in your pocket does the car beep at you and if so how many beeps? As far as this goes is the key fob in your pocket at this time or in your hand?

Are any of the open door indicators on when this happens. If so I think it is a series of beeps that will be presented when you push the door buttons.

On an 09 I think you may also have a shock sensor as an option, do you? Not sure how that ties in but have been looking at how to add one to my 08.

Now one question. You state that if you lock it from the inside and then press the button on the outside it will unlock. Instead of pressing the button on the outside, sit for a minute or two and see if the car will unlock itself anyway. If this occurs maybe the antenna for detecting that the key is outside the car is not functioning properly. Also check the position of the manual key lock (exercise it).

But............since the car alarm goes of it may well be a door switch, that is I think the door switch is what sets the alarm off if a door is opened. This tends to make sense because I believe it is also used to not allow you to lock the doors if one is open. From what I read this should show up at the dealer when they look at the codes stored. From what I read the switch that sets off the alarm is stored in memory.

If not then it appears that it is maybe a BCM issue. I think all of the switches except for the hood ties into the BCM and the hood ties into the IPDM

Perry

[heyugumby]

No open doors or trunk. Same door lock issue with either key fob. Beeps twice when I try to lock with the door button. Alarm goes off with both key fobs in the house. And after I lock the car from the inside it does not unlock itself. What is BCM and IPDM?

[kmckis1029]

+1

sounds like the "door closed" sensor/switch might be the problem... if i dont close all my doors, and hit the lock button on the key fob, i get like 5 quick beeps

and he also said the fob wont lock the doors, if the car thinks the fob is in the car it wont lock... i tried it just to test it lol... so it could be an attenna issue like pfarmer said.

[kmckis1029]

i noticed i get 3 long beeps if i leave my car running and get out the car with the key fob... and the engine imobilizer light blinks red on the dash... but i can still lock the doors with my fob... but it will give another two long beeps

and the quick, like five beeps, is when i have a door left open and press lock on the key fob

so maybe the car thinks you left it on and that why the alarm is going off... and it wont let you lock the doors... cause im assuming once you start it up everything is fine...
Modified by kmckis1029 at 11:00 AM 4/29/2009

[pfarmer]

No open doors or trunk. Same door lock issue with either key fob. Beeps twice when I try to lock with the door button. Alarm goes off with both key fobs in the house. And after I lock the car from the inside it does not unlock itself. What is BCM and IPDM?

BCM - Body Control ModuleIPDM - Not sure but think it is Intelligent Power Distribution Module or maybe Integrated Power Distribution Module, would have to look this up.

In any case these two work closely with the Intelligent key in many ways including locking the doors, starting the car, and so on. The hood switch works a little bit differently then the rest in that it connects into the IPDM whereas the rest connects into the BCM which is connected to the IPDM.

I think when it comes to issues such as doors and other Intelligent key issues that unless there is some hardware issue like a door switch, that either the BCM or IPDM is then part of the problem or the connections to/from or between these two modules are.

I don't know your level of understanding logic issues and wiring, but if you pick up the electronic manual files from this site and maybe others that it will at the minimum give you a good understanding of how many of these systems play with each other. Many if not most of these manuals give troubleshooting instructions and in turn these go over the logic of various systems. For example to start your car you need the key fob in the car, the brake on, the button pushed and so on. If something happens in this sequence the car will not start. Typically this would store a code in the cars computer that a dealer can then get a clue of where to go to fix an issue.

In your case that clue may be which switch triggers the car alarm. Assuming it is not a fault of the BCM or IPDM then maybe a wire to a door switch or a faulty door switch is at fault. This is handy especially if the problem doesn't show up at the dealer. Rather than hauling your car back and forth they may just replace the switch and check all of the wiring to it.

Now one thing I would do is make sure you carefully document all of these trips to the dealer since it may come into play later if you need to trigger the lemon laws in your state.

Perry

[heyugumby]

tom4g37, how ya liking your car so far? What model & options did you get? Being a gal, I chose the 37 based on looks and the "bang for your buck" comparison with the BMW. I was surprised to find the guys I know were seriously impressed with the engine/mechanics of the car. I got the Journey (white) with premium pkg. Other than the alarm issue going on now I'm loving the car. Great redesign on the '09.